Barcelona and Sevilla remain unbeaten after Camp Nou draw
Barcelona vs Sevilla: live
(Reuters) - Philippe Coutinho scored his first league goal since returning to Barcelona to help his side draw 1-1 at home to an excellent Sevilla side in La Liga on Sunday as the Catalans dropped points for the first time under Ronald Koeman. Europa League holders Sevilla took an early lead when Dutch forward Luuk de Jong pounced on a poor headed clearance in the area and smashed into the net, flummoxing Barca keeper Neto. But the Catalans hit back less than two minutes later when club record signing Coutinho, back at the club after spending last year on loan with Bayern Munich, reacted fastest to fire home after a Lionel Messi pass was deflected into his path.
Antoine Griezmann missed a good chance to give Barca the lead before halftime but hit the side netting while midfielder Frenkie de Jong should have scored late in the second half but missed the target from inside the area. Sevilla could also have snatched a winner, with Youssef En-Nesyri seeing a deflected shot hit the crossbar before failing to test Neto with a free header.
Barca and Sevilla each have seven points after three games and are fifth and sixth in the standings, with champions Real Madrid top on 10. The Catalans had made a superb start to the campaign under new coach Koeman, hammering Villarreal 4-0 in their opening game before pulling off an impressive 3-0 win at Celta Vigo despite having 10 men for the entire second half.
But they met a very different challenge in Sevilla, who finished fourth in the league last season. 'We knew this would be a really difficult game and so it proved, Sevilla are an excellent team and they played very well, they flooded the midfield and we struggled to cope with that but at least we earned a point,' Coutinho said. 'It's been difficult for us to play three games in one week but this is just the start, we'll soon get used to this.' Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui felt his side deserved more. 'It's very difficult to leave this ground with a point but I'm not satisfied because we had our chances,' he said. 'It was tough because they are a great team but it's a real shame we couldn't have got more from the game. We are playing with a lot of confidence at the moment but we should demand a little more from ourselves.'
Barca's new signing Sergino Dest made his debut three days after completing his switch from Ajax, coming off the bench to replace the injured Jordi Alba.
By Richard Martin
Barcelona player ratings for 1-1 draw vs Sevilla:
Two goals in the opening 10 minutes and a point apiece brings Barcelona and Sevilla back down to earth after two wins from two in their opening games. How did the Barça team perform against the Europa League champions?
Sevilla's Joan Jordan speaks at full-time: "We came to play a big game and came to win. It feels a bit bittersweet. We had chances to win it. In the final third we could have been more clinical. It was a huge effort from all of us. We have an excellent squad and a very exciting year ahead of us."
Philippe Coutinho at full-time: "It was a difficult game. They packed the midfield and we couldn't break through. I want to dedicate my goal to my pregnant wife."
Barcelona drop their first points of the season, but will be happy to come away from this one with a point.
Full-time: Barcelona 1-1 Sevilla
Sevilla excellent on the night and could have won the game.
into the final 30 seconds..
Very scrappy now. Messi shoots from 30 yards and it sails high and wide.
Sevilla clear the danger and hit Barcelona on the counter.
Messi goes down in the box...but no penalty!
5 minutes added on! Still time to find a winner
Into the 90th minute and Sevilla look for a winner. En-Nesyri threads a pass through, but Neto collects.
The second half has been a more cagey affair. Waiting to see how much injury time will be played.
Lopetegui still shouting instructions from the stands (through his mask!)
Free-kick comes to nothing, Pique fouls and it's a Sevilla free out.
Frenkie de Jong is fouled in the back by Gudelj. Barcelona free-kick. Messi stands over it...
Into the last 5 minutes, who is going to get the winner?
Currently 1-1
Another double change for Sevilla
OFF Jordan & de Jong
ON Fernandez & Oliver Torres
Sevilla have been very impressive tonight - Lopetegui has them very well drilled. Barcelona finding it difficult to play all night.
Frenkie de Jong goes close! Under 10 to go.
With just 24 hours to go in the transfer window we don't expect Barcelona to bring in any big signings, especially with the current financial situation the club find themselves in. They have been keen on bringing Memphis Depay in from Lyon. Definitely need reinforcements with Luis Suárez off to Atleti.
Good performance from Barcelona old boy Rakitic. Pity he didn't get the reception he deserved from culés.
Sevilla change
Rakitic OFF
Gudelj ON
Just under 15 to go at the Camp Nou. Still all square
Sergiño Dest was presented as a Barcelona player on Friday afternoon. The American international arrives on a five-year deal for €21 million plus €5 million in variables from Ajax and will have a release clause of €400 million.
Double sub for Barcelona
OFF Alba & Coutinho
ON Dest & Pjanic
Sergiño Dest is about to come on for his Barcelona debut!
Big chance Sevilla!
Youssef En-Nesyri heads just over.
Barça's summer signing from Juventus, Miralem Pjanic, looks like he's ready to enter the fray and perhaps inject some much-needed creativity in the final third.
Ex-Barcelona man Rakitic strikes from distance but it sails over. Munir making a difference since coming on. A threat down the right.
Barcelona finding it difficult bringing it out from the back. Sevilla applying pressure and Barça players static.
Araujo deflects an effort from Youssef En-Nesyri off the post. Sevilla almost take the lead.
Sevilla make a couple of changes
OFF Suso & Ocampos
ON En-Nesyri & Munir
Koeman makes a double change
OFF Griezmann & Fati
ON Pedri & Trincão
Diego Carlos clears the danger from a Sergi Roberto cross from the right. It almost ends up in his own net. Barcelona corner!
Sevilla are set up in a very clear 4-5-1 as Barça look to find gaps to break through. Still 1-1
Koundé wins the 50/50 duel with Fati. Manchester City pushed for the defender's signature but Sevilla will be delighted he stays put for now. A top defender.
Lopetegui has his airpods in in the stands, as he looks on from a distance due to suspension. We've a feeling he's listening to some Basque rock.
Tonight's match is the third fixture of the new LaLiga season for both teams. 100% win rate for the two teams so far.
Barça go long, Griezmann finds space in behind, but Bono collects from the Frenchman.
Sevilla kick us off!
No changes at half-time for either side.
We're about to get underway for the second half!
The ref blows it up right on halftime. 1-1 at the break at the Nou Camp. Sevilla took the lead through de Jong. Barcelona levelled just two minutes later through Coutinho. Exciting opening 45, plenty to look forward to in the second period.
Chance! Messi goes so close! down the right wing, he cuts in onto his left and sends it just wide of the far post. Almost!
Suso breaks down the right, crosses to the near post, but it's cleared. Another quick counter-attack from the away side. They're a constant threat. Still 1-1
Messi collecting it very deep, trying to make something from nothing. Sevilla holding tight with two banks, Barca struggling to penetrate.
Jesus Navas just gets better with age! He's up and down the right wing like a teenager.
A real battle between the sides now. Sevilla are playing with patience and really dealing with the Barcelona pressure. Fernando is having a good game in the engine room for Sevilla.
Julen Lopetegui, Sevilla head coach, is suspended for tonight's match and is watching from the stands.
Sevilla's pressing is really disrupting Barca's play.
Sevilla have 59% of the possession to the home side's 41%. Lopetegui will be happy with his team's display so far.
Fati takes on Kounde - two of the hottest prospects in European football right now. Barcelona forced all the way back to Neto.
Sevilla have not lost a game in 90 minutes since February and that 25-match streak has included some very impressive performances.
Sevilla haven't won at the Nou Camp since December 2002. In that time they have won the Europa League six times.
Excellent chance for Sevilla - Suso to Navas and Fernando just misses it as it flies across the 6-yard box. Super play down the right.
Jordi Alba tries to lob Bono from the halfway line Beckham style. Goes out for a corner. Speculative effort from the left-back.
Sevilla play it out for the back. Barcelona pressing quite high. Coutinho, Messi, Fati and Griezmann in the attacking roles.
Two de Jong's on the field tonight. Luuk and Frenkie. No relation.
They're not related, but have come across each other several times as they have played together for the Netherlands and have played against each other in the Eredivisie.
Excellent start to this game! It was titled the game of the weekend and it's living up to expectations.
Gooooooooooooooooooool!
Barcelona equalise inside two minutes. Philippe Coutinho with the strike. He taps home into an empty net. 1-1
Sevilla take the lead at Camp Nou. Barcelona 0-1 Sevilla.
Luuk de Jong smashes it home from 8 yards and it's too strong for Neto to keep out.
Veteran right-back Jesus Navas involved in forward runs and long switches to his fellow left-back and new Sevilla signing Acuna.
Chance! The first chance goes to Sevilla, Suso whips it in for Rakitic, who heads just over Neto's net.
Rakitic gets his first touch against his former club!
The home side are controlling the opening couple of minutes.
Barcelona playing from left to right.
We're underway in Barcelona!
The players are in the tunnel, on their way out for the start of Barcelona-Sevilla. We're getting underway in a couple of minutes.
The Barcelona subs are out finding their seats behind the dugouts. Among them is new signing Dest.
The lights are on at the Nou Camp and we're almost underway.
Unfortunately, we've no supporters in the famous ground to give Ivan Rakitic the warm welcome back that he deserves.
Barça’s three-goal hero in LaLiga so far this season Ansu Fati takes his place on the left-wing while a similarly in-form Philippe Coutinho starts in attacking midfield.
We're kicking off in just under 20 minutes!
It's Barcelona vs Sevilla in the game of the weekend in LaLiga!
Rakitic returns to Barça with Sevilla
After 6 years in the Barcelona engine room, Ivan Rakitic returns to his former club with Sevilla.
Rakitic was told by new Barça coach Ronald Koeman he was not part of his plans and was allowed to return to the Andalusian club.
The Croatian international, who played for Sevilla before joining Barça in 2014, was sold for an initial fee of €1.5 million.
New Barcelona signing Sergiño Dest has been registered in time to make the matchday squad, but it's Sergi Roberto who starts at right-back with Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets offering support in the double pivot.
American international Dest joined the club this week from Ajax.
New Barcelona signing Sergiño Dest has been registered in time to make the matchday squad, but it's Sergi Roberto who starts at right-back with Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets offering support in the double pivot.
American international Dest joined the club this week from Ajax.
Sevilla have not have won at the Camp Nou since 2002, but they are in one of their best spells as a club, having lifted their sixth Europa League in 14 years back in August, defeating Inter 3-2.
Both sides come into this one in fine form, with two wins from their opening couple of fixtures.
Ronald Koeman showed his respect for Julen Lopetegui in Saturday's presser by calling him a "very good coach".
The Sevilla starting XI is in for their away clash against Barcelona:
Bono - Jesús Navas, Koundé, Diego Carlos, Acuña - Fernando, Jordán, Rakitic, Ocampos, Suso - De Jong.
Barcelona have announced their starting XI for tonight's match vs Sevilla:
One change for Barça tonight. Araujo is in for the suspended Lenglet.
How to watch tonight's LaLiga match
Here's how you can watch Barcelona vs Sevilla
Barcelona vs Sevilla
Hello and a warm welcome to our live coverage of Barcelona vs Sevilla. The actions kicks off at the Nou Camp at 21:00 CEST. You can follow all the build-up to the game of the weekend with us here!
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